EcoPeace Middle East Environmental Peacemaking Newsletter

“Green Economy Initiatives” holds seminar on EcoTourism Business Development

EcoPeace’s “Green Economy Initiatives” (GEI) project held a 2-day cross border meeting this month with Israeli Professor
Dr. Uri Mayer Chissik – who leads an education program on food heritage and community involvement – and staff from our Sharhabil Bin Hassneh EcoPark (SHE) in Jordan. A partnership is being explored between the two, whereby Dr. Chissik would like to give training workshops to the SHE EcoPark staff on “food foraging”, an activity that can then be incorporated into the environmental education programs offered at the Park.

Also this month, the GEI project held the Final Seminar of the business consultant project phase at the Sharhabil bin Hassneh EcoPark in Jordan. This seminar concluded the first stage of developing the cross-border touristic itineraries between Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian Tour Operators and Tour Guides, choosing the best programs that…

International March for Elephants, Washington, D.C. Jim Justus Nyamu leads hundreds of supporters to the White House with one message, “Ivory Belongs to Elephants”. Photo Credit: Christina LaMonica Imagery

Christina LaMonica in Times Square for the US Fish and Widlife Services; Ivory Crush in June, 2015.

New York Ivory Crush in Times Square, June, 2015. Mr. Azzedine Downes, President and CEO of the International Fund for Animal Welfare – IFAW with Christina LaMonica.

Director Jimmiel J. Mandima of the African Wildlife Foundation and Christina LaMonica in Times Square. for the second Ivory Crush on American soil in U.S. history.

Cynthia Newlin O’Connor (center) and Christina LaMonica, in Times Square for the US Fish and WIldlife Services; Ivory Crush

Cynthia Newlin O’Connor (center) and Christina LaMonica, in Times Square for the US Fish and Wildlife Services; Ivory Crush. Cynthia’s testimony led to the enactment of legislation in New York banning the sale of Ivory and Rhino horn products. She also was responsible for the second Ivory crush in U.S. history on American soil in New York City.

Melissa Sciaccao, Director of The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Ivrine, California, and Christina LaMonica at the New York Ivory Crush in Times Square, June, 2015.

Ivory Crush Reception at Tavern on the Green in New York City. Food Critic, Chef, and Television Host; Katie Lee of the Food Network and Christina LaMonica.

Ms. Iris Ho; Wildlife Campaign Manager, Humane Society International and Christina LaMonica, at the Ivory Crush Reception at Tavern on the Green in New York City.

Braves singer; Jericho and Christina LaMonica, at Tavern on the Green in New York City for the Humane Society United States Reception.

Ivory Crush Reception at Tavern on the Green in New York City, with Ms. Heidi Osterman; District Leader Volunteer with the Humane Society United States and Christina LaMonica.

Lincoln Memorial for the Third Annual International March for Elephants. Photo Courtesy of Roger Thomas

Supporting New Jersey Legislation sponsored by Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) and Assemblyman Tim Eustace (D-Bergenfield) Under the new ban, it will become illegal in the Garden State to import or sell “trophies” from any species or subspecies of elephant, rhinoceros, tiger, lion, leopard, cheetah, pangolin, marine turtle, or ray listed in Appendix I or Appendix II of CITES (an international treaty governing trade in endangered, threatened, and vulnerable species worldwide). – Elephants DC